Power grid station opens at Jasola
Grid to solve S Delhi’s water problems alsoNew Delhi, April 30
The Delhi Power Minister, Mr Haroon Yusuf, inaugurated the Jasola grid station constructed to supply power to South Delhi residents. This is one of the largest grids in the BSES licensed area built at a cost of Rs 15 crore.

Sealing drive in Gurgaon tomorrow
Gurgaon, April 30
The authorities will commence the drive to seal premises and residential plots running illegal commercial activities in the licensed areas from Tuesday, according to the District Town and Country Planner (Enforcement), Mr B.L.Kaushik.

Admn to crack down on commercial vehicles
Faridabad, April 30
In an effort to streamline traffic, the district administration has finally decided to act tough with commercial vehicles flouting all traffic rules and regulations here.

East Delhi roads to get a facelift
New Delhi, April 30
All important roads in East Delhi are in for a major change as the Delhi Urban Development and PWD Minister, Dr A. K. Walia, has issued time-bound instructions for widening and strengthening of major roads apart from starting actual construction work of around 10 mega projects relating to construction of flyovers, underbridges and grade separators.

Activists of Loktantrik Samajwadi Party demonstrating against the Delhi Administration and multinational companies, at Jantar Mantar in the Capital on Sunday.
— Tribune photo by Rajeev Tyagi

Helmet makers’ body moves HCNew Delhi, April 30The All India Helmet Manufacturers Association has filed a writ petition in the Delhi High Court against a notification issued by the Central government which makes it mandatory for a rider to buy a helmet along with a two-wheeler from the same dealer.

Power woes: Pali project fails to meet deadline
Greater Noida, April 30
The Pali power project, which was scheduled to be commissioned by April- end, has once again failed to meet its deadline. The UP Power Corporation authorities have now given a new deadline saying the project will start generation by mid- May.

Need to create culture of preventing disasters: L-G
New Delhi, April 30
“There is a need to build capacities and train communities to respond better by way of disaster preparedness,” said Delhi Lt-General B. L. Joshi while interacting with students of the first batch of an MBA programme in Disaster Management at Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University.

‘Modern temple dance, a prisoner to attitude’
New Delhi, April 30
What has the banishment of the ‘Devdasi’ achieved for traditional Indian temple dance, especially
Bharatnatyam? Navtej Johar, a rather out-of-the-ordinary Bharatnatyam dancer, says candidly, “My contention is that the Sadir
(Devdasi) was designed to create poetic resonance, to create a sensuous, ecstatic spiritual space.

Artscape
Cultural extravaganza at Triveni Kala Sangam
New Delhi, April 30
Eminent artists, prominent musicologists and well-known scholars debated for over two hours whether the “gharanas” in the Indian traditional music should be named after the originator or the place to which the artist belonged.

A creation of M. Pravat, which will be exhibited at Anant Art Gallery.

Three cops on mobile duty crushed
Bulandshahr, April 30
Three police constables were crushed when a tanker rammed into a stationary police mobile gypsy jeep near village Chadawak on Gulawtti Bulandshahr road yesterday night. The tanker driver has been arrested.

Boy rescued from kidnapper
Noida, April 30
The police claimed to have rescue a boy kidnapped from the Noida stadium. The victim, identified as Amit, son of Arvind Chauhan of Chaura village in Sector-22, was kidnapped while he was watching his elder brother Sachin cycling at the stadium.

New Delhi, April 30
The Delhi Power Minister, Mr Haroon Yusuf, inaugurated the Jasola grid station constructed to supply power to South Delhi residents. This is one of the largest grids in the BSES licensed area built at a cost of Rs 15 crore.

The grid will also solve the water problems in South Delhi areas, including parts of Sarita Vihar, New Friends Colony, Sukhdev Vihar and Jasola. Important establishments, including Escorts Hearts Institute and Jamia Millia University will also benefit.

Complimenting the BSES on commissioning the Jasola grid station on Saturday, the minister said, “This grid will fulfil demands of the residents and commercial establishments of the fast-developing hub. We are confident that the BSES will continue to be an equal partner in the future development of the area.”

Improved power supply to the DJB pumping station at Jasola and the water sewage filtration plant at Okhla would also go a long way in reducing the water problems of the area, a BSES official said.

The Chief Executive Officer of the BSES and Director of Reliance Energy said, “Apart from being among the 10 largest grids in the BSES licensed area in Delhi, this grid is unique because in case of a failure in the main feed, it is capable of providing feedback to the existing grids in Sarai Julena and Jamia.”

A BSES spokesman said, “In its endeavour to bring Delhi on a par with the leading cities of the world in the field of distribution technology, the BSES is deploying world class and state-of-the-art technologies. This high-tech grid station, spread over five acres, incorporates some of the latest advancements in distribution technology”.

Gurgaon, April 30
The authorities will commence the drive to seal premises and residential plots running illegal commercial activities in the licensed areas from Tuesday, according to the District Town and Country Planner (Enforcement), Mr B.L.Kaushik.

The Administrator, HUDA, Gurgaon Circle, Mr S.P.Gupta said that the two-day drive in the licensed area was stopped due to the unavailability of sufficient police force. He asserted that the drive will continue with full intensity.

Mr Gupta said that efforts will be taken to ensure that there was no illegal structures and the city did not have haphazard growth.

As such, apart from sealing such residential plots and premise, action will also be taken against the unauthorised structures, he said.

In the two-day drive in Sushant Lok and DLF, the authorities had sealed as many as 77 premises.

It may be pointed out that a few days back, in a meeting of senior officers including the Deputy Commissioner, Administrator, HUDA, the district police chief and DTP (Enforcement), the police chief had suggested that the concerned departments could use the police force in turns and on different days of a week so as to overcome the shortage of manpower in the district.

According to the personnel of the DTP (Enforcement) 650 such plots and residences have been identified in various parts of the city, which are conducting illegal commercial activities.

It may be mentioned here that the licensed areas are those where permission has been given to private builders and colonisers to set up colonies.

Although the drive of the authorities have come in for appreciation from wide-ranging quarters, most of the residents have flayed the authorities for allowing commercial activities in residential areas.

Faridabad, April 30
In an effort to streamline traffic, the district administration has finally decided to act tough with commercial vehicles flouting all traffic rules and regulations here.

Even as the proposal to start CNG operated vehicles here has been languishing, the traffic police has failed to streamline the transport system, resulting in chaos on the roads and acute pollution in the city.

It has announced that all commercial vehicles, including auto rickshaws, without proper papers and valid pollution check certificates would not be allowed to ply on roads from May 1.

Accordingly, a two-day camp concluded at sector- 12 here today in which the officials provided a special opportunity to the auto rickshaw owners to get their papers in place as per the rules laid down by the government.

It was pointed out that the majority of the 20000 auto rickshaws in the city were operating without proper papers including the necessary pollution certificate.

Even though the plying of commercial vehicles, manufactured more than 15 years back, had been banned last year, the authorities had failed to implement this regulation forcefully, resulting in the presence of thousands of polluting vehicles on the city roads.

As such, the traffic in the city has been a major cause of the acute pollution, with Faridabad being one of the top ten polluted cities of India.

The Deputy Commissioner said that the administration would not allow the plying of polluting auto rickshaws, particularly since the government was to file an affidavit in the High Court regarding the streamlining of traffic movement here.

A three member team headed by the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr Sanjay Joon, had been set up to organise the camp, so as to provide a chance to the owners to get all the necessary certifications completed.

It may be pointed out that the local auto-rickshaw union had gone on a strike following challan of vehicles violating the traffic rules and regulations.

New Delhi, April 30
All important roads in East Delhi are in for a major change as the Delhi Urban Development and PWD Minister, Dr A. K. Walia, has issued time-bound instructions for widening and strengthening of major roads apart from starting actual construction work of around 10 mega projects relating to construction of flyovers, underbridges and grade separators.

Dr Walia has instructed the PWD to ensure the completion of widening of Road Nos 56, 57 and 57(A) by July and start work relating to strengthening and widening of Road Nos 58, 64, 66, 70, MB Road from ITO chungi to Old Yamuna Bridge, MB Road from GT Road to Khajuri Chowk, MB Road from Khajuri Chowk to Sabhapur village, Mother Dairy and Madhu Vihar Road, among others.

The minister also directed the MCD to ensure removal of malba (debris) accumulated on roads. The Forest Department was also directed to make a green area around ITO and Nizamuddin bridges.

Dr Walia has asked Chief Engineer (PWD) to identify vulnerable places where foot overbridges would be constructed before the commencement of Commonwealth Games 2010.

A proposal relating to the flyover at NH-24 near the Gazipur drain is being sent for approval of DDA’s Technical Committee, it was pointed out. The UP Government has been requested to accord permission for construction of an approach towards Ghaziabad to enable PWD to take up construction of Flyover at Apsara Border on GT Road.

Constructed of UP Link Road cloverleaf and Grade Separator at GT Road near Shyamlal College are pending with Technical Committee of DDA. A consultant for construction of an Underground North-South Corridor connecting Gandhi Nagar Pushta, Shastri Park, MB Road is being appointed. Dr. Walia further instructed Chief Engineer PWD to get the necessary approvals expedited all these projects are to be commissioned well before commencement of Commonwealth Games 2010.

New Delhi, April 30
The All India Helmet Manufacturers Association (AIHMA) has filed a writ petition in the Delhi High Court against a notification issued by the Central government which makes it mandatory for a rider to buy a helmet along with a two-wheeler from the same dealer.

Association president Madhu Khurana informed that the court had fixed the date of next hearing on May 4.

He said that due to the notification, about 5,000 helmet manufacturers in the Capital alone would have to wind up their age-old business.

He said that though it was a commendable initiative to encourage the use of helmets by two-wheeler riders, emphasis should be placed on enforcing the existing road traffic rules and regulations across the country.

“It is ironical that in some states, traffic rules to wear a helmet while riding are being implemented very strictly, while in some other states they are not implemented at all. Debarring small manufacturers from manufacturing and selling helmets is not the way to solve the problem,” he added.

Greater Noida, April 30
The Pali power project, which was scheduled to be commissioned by April- end, has once again failed to meet its deadline. The UP Power Corporation authorities have now given a new deadline saying the project will start generation by mid- May.

The authorities have said the project would be able to supply 60 MW power to Greater Noida by May 5, “provided there is no technical snag in between”.

The Pali project is expected to remedy Noida power crisis to some extent.

Mr R.B. Tiwari, Deputy GM, Transmission, UP Power Corporation, said a team had arrived from Mumbai for technical
testing of the Pali power project. A snag in the software of the project was rectified by the team by evening.

The project is expected to be a cure for the ongoing power crisis in Greater Noida area.

Harassed by prolonged power cuts in Greater Noida, the president of Lok Kalyan Samiti, Pawan Sharma and other office-bearers had yesterday apprised the CEO of NPCL, Mr R.C. Agarwal of their problems.

New Delhi, April 30
“There is a need to build capacities and train communities to respond better by way of disaster preparedness,” said Delhi Lt-General B. L. Joshi while interacting with students of the first batch of an MBA programme in Disaster Management at Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University.

Interestingly, the first batch of the MBA programme in Disaster Management at the GGIS has more than 46 officers as students drawn from the central and state governments, defence, police, paramilitary, fire services, NGOs etc.

The Lt-Governor articulated the need to put in best efforts to create a ‘culture of prevention’ in Delhi with respect to disasters so that there was minimal loss. He said there was a need to develop ‘working models’ for specific disasters in consonance with the needs of the city.

Mr Joshi added that more effective prevention strategies would save precious lives and property and funds which were currently being spent on intervention and relief would instead be directed into enhancing equitable and sustainable development.

Mr Joshi further said that disaster management was a multidimensional and multidisciplinary process which involved interaction to create solutions from multiple agencies like the civil society, the media, corporate bodies, international organisations, NGOs, academic and research institutions. “Disasters cause widespread human, material and environmental losses which often exceed a community’s capabilities to cope with external relief,” said Mr Joshi.

He said the management of disasters required building requisite skills and capabilities competent enough to effectively deal with a whole cycle of disaster management – prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, relief and rehabilitation.

The Lt-Governor also gave away trophies to students for best academic performance and two key presentations were made by students on the ‘fire management system for Delhi’ and ‘airport security – planning using geo-informatics techniques.’

New Delhi, April 30
What has the banishment of the ‘Devdasi’ achieved for traditional Indian temple dance, especially Bharatnatyam? Navtej Johar, a rather out-of-the-ordinary Bharatnatyam dancer, says candidly, “My contention is that the Sadir (Devdasi) was designed to create poetic resonance, to create a sensuous, ecstatic spiritual space. Balasaraswati was the last of the Devdasis and her Abhinaya was legendry. I feel the wronged Devdasi took with her the soul of dance and what we have left today is a shell.”

Johar frankly and critically examined the prevalent state of affairs in traditional Indian dance, especially Bharatnatyam, in a talk titled, ‘Framing the Fluid – Bharatnatyam’ that he gave at the India International Center recently.

Johar began the talk saying that, “What I’m talking of right now is of a conflict which has stayed with me from my days in Kalakshetra. Back then when I danced I felt it was something lovely but also that there was something very amiss.” He further explained that today Bharatnatyam and much of Indian temple dancing is a prisoner to its own attitudes. The uniqueness of Indian classical dance lies in the fact that it provides tracks to move from the material to the sublimes. Traditional dance was one such vehicle.

Johar elaborates on this concept saying that mid-stream through the performance the viewer sees and grows aware of something much more greater and sublime. This is the ‘Rasa-Hridaya,’ the viewer shares the heart of the dancer and views the invisible world through the dance.

For this to happen, the dancer has to have the capacity to go beyond technique and dance into the moment which results in an outgoing love or ‘Sringara’. For the development of this technique the dancer has to live a life separated from the normal one; such a dancer lived in two worlds, she was the Devdasi and had incredible freedom sanctioned by society.

The Devdasi was really the custodian of this sacred energy which she could transmit through dance to people. Abhinaya is the means to invert attention and travel from the outside to the inside.

However, British missionaries and later Hindu revivalists targeted the Devdasi and banned her. As a result, much of the re-construction of dance that took place blanked the Devdasi out.

The new dance that emerged became tentative, self-conscious, with feigned expression and devoid of the sacred energy that the Devdasi carried. There was reinforcement of a pre-fixed idea for the dancer, a shift from ritual to nationalism and slogan.

The dancer was no longer an unfixed object established in the moment. She was no longer a sacred dancer: the sacred resonance so central to Indian dance was lost.

So, the dilemma today is on how to bring the sacred back to dance again? How to bring the intangible into a fixed reality?

New Delhi, April 30
Eminent artists, prominent musicologists and well-known scholars debated for over two hours whether the “gharanas” in the Indian traditional music should be named after the originator or the place to which the artist belonged. The debate was part of a seminar organized by the Pracheen Kala Kendra, a Chandigarh- based voluntary body devoted to preservation of ancient arts, on the occasion of its Golden Jubilee year celebrations at the Triveni Kala Sangam here.

The seminar was followed by a thoughtfully conceived concert of music and dance. This was the fifth seminar in the series by the Kendra to focus the attention of the artists and music lovers on the need to rename “gharanas”.

‘The Art Edge’

Geetu Hinduja and Anupa Mehta, jointly organised an exhibition of recent art works from studios across the country and some select paintings from private collections at the Visual Art Gallery, India Habitat Centre from April 26 to April 30.

Anant Art Gallery here is presenting an exhibition of artworks by M. Pravat from May 3 to May 20. Entitled “Theatre of the Absurd”, the exhibition will have on display some of the recent works of the artist.

Film festival
at IHC

The Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, is holding a festival of the best FTII Student Diploma Films 2005 at the Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre here on May 1. Ms. Sharmila Tagore, trustee of the Public
Service Broadcasting Trust and chairperson, Central Board of Film Certification will be the guest of honour.

The films to be screened during the festival are acclaimed as among the finest in their genre “representing exciting points of departure for the emerging generation of film makers.”

Portuguese culture

The India International Centre in collaboration with the Portuguese Embassy Cultural Centre here is organising an exhibition of acrylic on canvas and
photographs by Nuno Muguel Chuva from Portugal at the Art Gallery (Annexe) from May 11 to May 16.

Meanwhile, B. Vaidyanathan from Secundrabad is scheduled to give a recital of classical
carnatic music (vocal) at the India International Centre auditorium here on May 3.

He will be accompanied by KLN Sastri on the violin and G. Ramachandran on Mridanagam.

Odissi recital
at IIC

Arushi Mudgal, a local artiste will give an Odissi recital at the India International Centre auditorium on May 9.

Arushi is the disciple of the well-known Odissi exponent, Madhavi Mudgal, who will be conducting the show.

Bulandshahr, April 30
Three police constables were crushed when a tanker rammed into a stationary police mobile gypsy jeep near village Chadawak on Gulawtti Bulandshahr road yesterday night. The tanker driver has been arrested.

The three deceased included Constable Gaj Raj Singh of Meerut, Constable Janam Singh of Bhagwanpur Sambhawli and Constable Madan Mohan of Mathura.

Noida, April 30
The police claimed to have rescue a boy kidnapped from the Noida stadium. The victim, identified as Amit, son of Arvind Chauhan of Chaura village in Sector-22, was kidnapped while he was watching his elder brother Sachin cycling at the stadium.

According to the police, the accused, identified as Afroze, reportedly made Amit unconscious and took him in a bus to Sector-19. However, some people who saw the man with the boy got suspicious and informed the Sector-20 police, who rescued the child promptly.